Talking-machine



F. J. EMPSON.

. TALKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.10.1914. RENEWED OCT. 10. 1919.

Patented May 18, 319260 WITIVEESISES 4. swam-f UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK JAMES nlvirson, or SYDNEY, new scorn warns, AUSTRALIA.

Application filed January 10, 1914, Serial No. 811,455. Renewed October 10, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Fnnnnnion Janus EMPSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Sydney, New South Vales, Australia, have invented new and useful Improvements in T alking-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in talking machines and the like and more particularly to a sound controller therefor. The advantages of my improvements will be apparent to those skilled in the art from an understanding of the following specification in connection with the annexed drawings which diagrammatically illustrate only some of the specific embodiments Which my invention is adapted to take.

In these drawings, Figure 1 shows one form of my invention arranged to control the sound passage in the tubular connection 'which operatively connects the tone-arm with the horn of a talking machine, the valve parts'being shown just closed. In the remainingfigures, I have not repeated the ph'ono raph parts such as the tone-arm and horn, Tut for simplicity show merely the valve parts; Continuing with a brief description of the drawings, Fig. 2 illustrates the valve parts of Fig. 1 still further seated or adjusted relative to each other; Figs. 3

and 5 show two modifications of the valve parts illustrated in their just seated posi tion; and Figs. 4 and 6 respectively illustrate the valve parts of Figs. 3 and 5 still further seated on each other.

I will now describe the specific devices of the drawings,- reserving it to the claims to point out the novel features and to define the scope of the invention, it being understood that the claims will be given the due range of equivalents to which they may be entitled in view of the art.

1 is th'ebase portion of the tone-arm of a phonograph having a swiveling connection at 2 with the tubular coupling 3 between which and the small end of the horn 4 is clamped the flanged base portion 5 of the soft, flexible rubber throat 6 by means of the screws 7. 8 is aplug valve on the valve stem 18 adapted to be given axial adjustment from' a position well away from the circular lip ormouth 9 of the throat, wherein the loudest-or double forte playing effect is obtained, through intermediate positions to one wherein the valve is just in contact Specification of Letters Patent.

TALKING-MACHINE.

Patented May 18, 1920.

Serial No. 329,891.

with said lip, and thence to positions beyond with a gradual diminuendo from said double forte effect to double pianissimo; and vice versa as the valve is withdrawn or operated in the reverse direction.

The actual means is not illustrated by which the listener can adjust the valve to modulate the tones sympathetically at will to conform with the constantly changing e:; pression effects proper to the selection being played, because this means is not the subject matter of my present patent.

The throat member of Figs. 1 and 2 should be so made that its lip 9 is very thin and so that its wall gradually thickens from said lip to an imaginary circumferential line 10, between which and the base of the throat the material is so thick that it is relatively non transmitting to the sound-waves. The result is that when the valve is just seated on the lip 9, the tone is not abruptly diminished as compared with the immediately adjacent open position of the valve, because the sound can still pass by and through said lip and, to a diminished extent, through the taperthickness zone of the throat between this lip and the part 10 beyond which it is assumed the throat wall is so thick that it is substantially non-transmitting to sound.

It follows that when the plug in Fig. 1 is still further adjusted toward the throat, it pushes against the thin lip and thickens it, with resulting diminution of tone by the mere fact of said thickening. Also, the plug then begins to enter the mouth of the throat and, as in Fig. 2, can be caused to contact with and cover the sound transmitting Zone of the throat to an increasing extent up to the line 10. The valve prevents the sound from passing through this soundtransmitting zone to the extent that it covers it, and since this zone gradually thickens to a condition of substantial non-transmissi on to the sou nd waves, it follows that the entering valve causes a delicate diminuendo on entering, and a delicate crescendo on being withdrawn. Also, there is no sudden break or marked contrast at the moment the valve either closes or leaves the lip of the throat.

Fig. 3 differs merely in showing, compared with Fig. 1, a longer sound-transmiting Zone between the lip 9 and the nonsound-transmitting portion 10. The result is that this portion is so flimsy that it folds back on itself, as shown in Fig. 4:, carried on the advancing valve, but the general cf" feet is the same that the plug can be adjusted at will to cover the sound-transmitting zone to any desired extent to produce corresponding differences in tone in the playing of the instrument.

Fig. 5 merely differs in forming the throat of Figs. 1 or 3 with an initially inwardly directed lip 9 to give it all the more natural tendency to fold inwardly described.-

lVhere the valve slides in the throat as in Figs. 1 and 2, it may with advantage be made of a smooth surfaced material like hard rubber, but where it does not, as in the remaining figures, it may be made of soft, elastic rubber.

lVith the device of my present invention, a great range of expression effects is obtainable from sharp contrasts obtained by quick movement of the valve, to smooth crescendo and diminuendos.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a sound controlling device, the combination with a sound-conduit of means for controlling the passage of sound waves therethrough comprising a plug valve cooperating with a ported member whose port has a thin rubber lip which thickens away from the port to a portion that is relatively non-transmitting to sound.

2. In a sound controlling device, the combination with a soundconduit of means for controlling the passage of sound waves therethrough comprising a plug valve cooperating with a ported member whose port has a thin rubber lip which thickens away from the port to a portion that is relatively non-transmitting to sound, said ported member being variably coverable by the valve during the relative adjustment of the valve and ported member.

3. In a sound controlling device, the combination with a sound-conduit of a plug valve cooperating with a ported member constructed of rubber whose port has a sound-transmitting lip which thickens away from the port.

l. In a sound controlling device, the combination with a sound-conduit of means for controlling the passage of sound waves therethrough comprising a plug valve disposed exteriorly of and cooperating with a ported member whose port has a soundtransmitting lip which thickens away from the port to a portion that is relatively nontransmitting to sound.

5. In a sound controlling device, the combination with a sound-conduit of a plug valve cooperating with a ported member whose port has a sound-transmitting lip which thickens away from the port to a portion that is relatively non-transmitting to sound, said ported member being variably coverable by the valve during the relative adjustment of the valve and ported member;-

6. In a sound controlling device, the com bination with a sound-conduit of a valve member disposed exteriorly of and cooperating with a ported member, one of said members comprising a sound-transmitting portion which is opposed to the sound-waves and which graduates in. sound-transmitting quality and means for delivering soundwaves to said conduit.

'7. In a sound controlling device, the conibination with a sound-conduit of a valve member cooperating with a ported member constructed of rubber, one of said members comprising a sound-transmitting portion which is opposed to the sound-waves and which graduates in sound-transmitting quality to a portion that is relatively nontransmitting to sound and means for delivering sound-waves to said conduit.

8. In a soundcontrolling device, the combination with a sound-conduit of a valve member disposed exteriorly of and cooperating with a ported member, one of said members comprising a sound-transmitting portion which is opposed to the sound-waves and which graduates in sound-transmitting quality, said sound-transmitting portion being variably coverable by the relative adjustment of the valve and ported member and means for delivering sound-waves to said conduit.

9. In a sound controlling device, the combination with a sound-conduit of a valve member disposed exteriorly of and cooperating with a ported member, one of said members comprising a sound-transmitting portion opposed to the sound-waves which graduates in sound-transmitting quality and which, after the closing of the port, is arranged to be contacted with to a variable extent by the relative adjustment of the valve and ported member. and means for delivering soundwaves to said conduit.

10. In a sound controlling device, the combination with a sound-conduit of a valve member cooperating with a ported member, one of said members comprising a thin rub ber lip thickening in a direction transverse thereto and arranged to be contacted with to a variable extent to vary the tone by the relative adjustment of said valve and ported member.

11. In a sound controlling device, the combination with a sound-conduit of a valve member cooperating with a ported member, one of said members comprising a thin rubber lip thickening in a direction transverse thereto and arranged, after the closing of the port, to be contacted with to a variable extent to vary the tone by the relative adjustment of said valve and ported member.

12. In a sound controlling device, the combination with a sound-conduit of a member opposed to the sound-waves having a graduated resistance to sound-transmission, and adjustable means cooperating with said member to cover it to varying extents to produce different expression effects and means for delivering sound-Waves to said conduit.

13. In asound controlling device, the combination With a sound-conduit of a member opposed to the sound-Waves having a graduated resistance to soundtransmission, and a related port through which the sound can also pass, and adjustable means to cover said port to varying extents, and immediately thereafter to begin covering the soundtransmitting member in a direction from its maximum to its minimum transmitting portion and means for delivering sound-Waves to said conduit.

14. In a sound controlling device, the combination with a sound-conduit of a member opposed to the soundwaves having a graduated resistance to sound-transmission, and a related port through which the soundwaves can also pass, and means for covering said port and member to varying extents,

the adaptation being such that the tone effect when the port is barely closed is not markedly different from that When the s0und-transmitting member is beginning to be covered; and means for delivering sound- Waves to said conduit.

15. In a sound controlling device, the combination of a member having an extremely thin outer end or lip-portion which permits the transmission of sound-Waves therethrough, the remainder of said member being sufficiently thicker than said lip to prevent such sound-transmission; and adjustable, relatively non-sound-transmitting means slid-able over said lip-portion to varying extents.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of January, 19M.

FREDERICK JAMES EMPSON. Vitnesses E. Sonnnn, J12, J. H. Drcmnson. 

